Kathy Marie Alfano Augustine (May 29, 1956 – July 11, 2006) was an American politician from Nevada. A Republican, Augustine served in the Nevada Assembly (1993–1995) and in the Nevada Senate (1995–1999). She was Nevada's first female State Controller, serving from 1999 until her 2006 death, except for a brief period of suspension during her 2004 impeachment trial which led to censure but not termination.[1][2] She was murdered in 2006 by Chaz Higgs, her fourth husband, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with possibility of parole.
She had two short-lived marriages, both ending in divorce and one producing her daughter Dallas. Augustine married Delta Air Lines pilot Charles Augustine. They were married for seventeen years until his death from complications of a stroke on August 19, 2003. She had three stepchildren from her marriage to Charles. Three weeks after his death, she married William Charles "Chaz" Higgs on September 19, 2003, a critical care nurse who had been involved in Charles Augustine's care.[5]
On August 27, 2012, Dallas Augustine killed her wife, Jessie McCaskill, before killing herself at their Phoenix, Arizona home in a murder-suicide.[6]
From 1993 to 1995, Augustine served one term in the Nevada Assembly. During the 1992 campaign, she was criticized for a campaign advertisement featuring a bad photograph of her African-American opponent (the same photograph, however, was used by her opponent in her own campaign literature). Above descriptions of the two candidates' positions on various issues was a caption reading, "There is a real difference." Augustine served in the Nevada Senate from 1995 to 1999. In the 1994 state senate election, she defeated incumbent Lori Lipman Brown, and once again drew controversy for a campaign advertisement in which she accused Brown of being opposed to prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. In fact, Brown, who is ethnically Jewish (though an atheist theologically),[7] declined to participate in a prayer led by a Christian minister, and the accusation regarding Brown's opposition to the Pledge was false. In 1998, Augustine was elected as the state's first female State Controller, serving in that post until her death. In January 2004, George W. Bush administration officials advised Augustine that she was a finalist to become Treasurer of the United States; however, Anna Escobedo Cabral was subsequently nominated and confirmed as Treasurer.
Impeachment and censure
In September 2004, Augustine was accused of violating state ethics laws during her 2002 re-election campaign, and was fined a record $15,000 by the state Ethics Commission for using state personnel and equipment for her personal re-election campaign. As a result of the investigation, she was impeached by the Nevada Assembly in November of the same year, and temporarily relinquished office.[8] She was the first Nevada state official to be impeached. Following a week-long trial in the Nevada Senate, she was convicted on one charge, but acquitted on three others.[9] Augustine was censured, but allowed to resume office.
2006 State Treasurer race
Unable to seek a third term as State Controller due to term limits, in January 2006, Augustine announced her candidacy for Nevada State Treasurer, despite opposition from state Republican Party leaders stemming from her impeachment. In May 2006, the party voted to deny her party support in the State Treasurer race. Despite her death, her name remained on the ballot for the August 15 primary, and she received 18.64% of the vote.[10]
Murder and subsequent death investigation
On July 8, 2006, Augustine was found unconscious in her Reno home, and died three days later without regaining consciousness.[11][12] Following Augustine's death GovernorKenny Guinn appointed Steve Martin, an accountant and Republican candidate in the 2006 State Controller race, to succeed her.[13]
Although early reports stated that the cause of death was a heart attack, police soon came to suspect foul play.[14]
On July 14, 2006, her husband, nurse Chaz Higgs, attempted suicide by slitting his wrists in the couple's Las Vegas home.[15] Higgs was arrested in Hampton, Virginia on September 29, 2006, and charged with first degree murder in Augustine's death after an FBI toxicology test found traces of the paralyzing drug succinylcholine in her system.[14] Higgs, a critical care nurse, allegedly made suspicious remarks to a co-worker about how to kill someone undetectably using succinylcholine.[11][15] He was extradited back to Nevada.[11] The warrant and test results were kept secret until Higgs's arrest.[12]
^. News 3 Las Vegas. KVBC. July 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2006.
^(PDF). Press Release 00403. Controller's Office, State of Nevada. June 10, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2005. Retrieved July 14, 2006.
^. www.msn.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
^. News 3 Las Vegas. KVBC. July 14, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2006.
^"Daughter of lawmaker killed in 2006 found dead in apparent murder-suicide". Las Vegas Review-Journal. August 28, 2012. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
kathy, augustine, kathy, marie, alfano, augustine, 1956, july, 2006, american, politician, from, nevada, republican, augustine, served, nevada, assembly, 1993, 1995, nevada, senate, 1995, 1999, nevada, first, female, state, controller, serving, from, 1999, unt. Kathy Marie Alfano Augustine May 29 1956 July 11 2006 was an American politician from Nevada A Republican Augustine served in the Nevada Assembly 1993 1995 and in the Nevada Senate 1995 1999 She was Nevada s first female State Controller serving from 1999 until her 2006 death except for a brief period of suspension during her 2004 impeachment trial which led to censure but not termination 1 2 She was murdered in 2006 by Chaz Higgs her fourth husband who was sentenced to life imprisonment with possibility of parole Kathy Augustine18th Nevada State ControllerIn office January 4 1999 July 11 2006GovernorKenny GuinnPreceded byDarrel R DainesSucceeded bySteve MartinMember of the Nevada Senate from the 7th districtIn office 1995 1999Serving with Dina TitusPreceded byLori Lipman BrownSucceeded byTerry John CareMember of the Nevada Assembly from the 12th districtIn office 1993 1995Preceded byJohn L NortonSucceeded byGenie OhrenshallPersonal detailsBorn 1956 05 29 May 29 1956Los Angeles California U S DiedJuly 11 2006 2006 07 11 aged 50 Reno Nevada U S Resting placeDavis Memorial Park Las Vegas NevadaPolitical partyRepublicanSpouse s Charles Augustine d August 19 2003 William Charles Higgs m September 19 2003 July 11 2006 her death Alma materOccidental CollegeCalifornia State University Long BeachProfessionPolitician Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Impeachment and censure 4 2006 State Treasurer race 5 Murder and subsequent death investigation 6 References 7 Further readingEarly life EditAugustine was born as Kathy Marie Alfano in Los Angeles California and was Italian American 3 Her educational background included a bachelor s degree in political science from Occidental College and a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University Long Beach While in college she worked in Washington D C as a Congressional intern Prior to entering politics Augustine worked for Delta Air Lines as a flight scheduler for twelve years and briefly as a flight attendant based out of Las Vegas Nevada after 1988 4 She had two short lived marriages both ending in divorce and one producing her daughter Dallas Augustine married Delta Air Lines pilot Charles Augustine They were married for seventeen years until his death from complications of a stroke on August 19 2003 She had three stepchildren from her marriage to Charles Three weeks after his death she married William Charles Chaz Higgs on September 19 2003 a critical care nurse who had been involved in Charles Augustine s care 5 On August 27 2012 Dallas Augustine killed her wife Jessie McCaskill before killing herself at their Phoenix Arizona home in a murder suicide 6 Political career EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message From 1993 to 1995 Augustine served one term in the Nevada Assembly During the 1992 campaign she was criticized for a campaign advertisement featuring a bad photograph of her African American opponent the same photograph however was used by her opponent in her own campaign literature Above descriptions of the two candidates positions on various issues was a caption reading There is a real difference Augustine served in the Nevada Senate from 1995 to 1999 In the 1994 state senate election she defeated incumbent Lori Lipman Brown and once again drew controversy for a campaign advertisement in which she accused Brown of being opposed to prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance In fact Brown who is ethnically Jewish though an atheist theologically 7 declined to participate in a prayer led by a Christian minister and the accusation regarding Brown s opposition to the Pledge was false In 1998 Augustine was elected as the state s first female State Controller serving in that post until her death In January 2004 George W Bush administration officials advised Augustine that she was a finalist to become Treasurer of the United States however Anna Escobedo Cabral was subsequently nominated and confirmed as Treasurer Impeachment and censure EditIn September 2004 Augustine was accused of violating state ethics laws during her 2002 re election campaign and was fined a record 15 000 by the state Ethics Commission for using state personnel and equipment for her personal re election campaign As a result of the investigation she was impeached by the Nevada Assembly in November of the same year and temporarily relinquished office 8 She was the first Nevada state official to be impeached Following a week long trial in the Nevada Senate she was convicted on one charge but acquitted on three others 9 Augustine was censured but allowed to resume office 2006 State Treasurer race EditUnable to seek a third term as State Controller due to term limits in January 2006 Augustine announced her candidacy for Nevada State Treasurer despite opposition from state Republican Party leaders stemming from her impeachment In May 2006 the party voted to deny her party support in the State Treasurer race Despite her death her name remained on the ballot for the August 15 primary and she received 18 64 of the vote 10 Murder and subsequent death investigation EditOn July 8 2006 Augustine was found unconscious in her Reno home and died three days later without regaining consciousness 11 12 Following Augustine s death Governor Kenny Guinn appointed Steve Martin an accountant and Republican candidate in the 2006 State Controller race to succeed her 13 Although early reports stated that the cause of death was a heart attack police soon came to suspect foul play 14 On July 14 2006 her husband nurse Chaz Higgs attempted suicide by slitting his wrists in the couple s Las Vegas home 15 Higgs was arrested in Hampton Virginia on September 29 2006 and charged with first degree murder in Augustine s death after an FBI toxicology test found traces of the paralyzing drug succinylcholine in her system 14 Higgs a critical care nurse allegedly made suspicious remarks to a co worker about how to kill someone undetectably using succinylcholine 11 15 He was extradited back to Nevada 11 The warrant and test results were kept secret until Higgs s arrest 12 Higgs was convicted of murder by a Reno jury on June 29 2007 15 He was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole after 20 years 15 He was placed on suicide watch after twice trying to kill himself while in custody 15 Higgs is housed in the High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs Nevada 16 In May 2009 the Nevada Supreme Court upheld Higgs murder conviction in a majority decision 16 References Edit Kathy Augustine Biography Controller s Office Nevada State Controller Kathy Augustine dies News 3 Las Vegas KVBC July 12 2006 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved July 16 2006 State Controller Named Italian American of the Year PDF Press Release 00403 Controller s Office State of Nevada June 10 2003 Archived from the original PDF on November 10 2005 Retrieved July 14 2006 MSN Outlook Office Skype Bing Breaking News and Latest Videos www msn com Archived from the original on March 17 2020 Retrieved May 30 2019 Chaz Higgs Kathy Augustine s husband attempts suicide News 3 Las Vegas KVBC July 14 2006 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved July 14 2006 Daughter of lawmaker killed in 2006 found dead in apparent murder suicide Las Vegas Review Journal August 28 2012 Retrieved 2018 07 01 Secular Coalition for America Staff Secular Coalition for America Archived January 1 2007 at the Wayback Machine Articles of Impeachment Retrieved May 30 2019 21st Special Session General Information www leg state nv us Retrieved May 30 2019 Election Summary Nevada Secretary of State August 16 2006 Archived from the original on August 29 2006 Retrieved August 16 2006 a b c Friess Steve 3 October 2006 Police Investigate 03 Death After Charge Against Nurse The New York Times Retrieved 6 September 2017 a b Sonner Scott 30 September 2006 Nev Official s Husband Charged in Death The Washington Post Retrieved 6 September 2017 Former NV controller to run for treasurer The San Diego Union Tribune 8 January 2010 Retrieved 6 September 2017 a b Ritter Ken 2 May 2007 Man cleared in death of Nevada official awaits trial in second case The Seattle Times Retrieved 6 September 2017 a b c d e Martelle Scott 30 June 2007 Nevada official s widower guilty Los Angeles Times Retrieved 6 September 2017 a b Ryan Cy 15 January 2010 Court issues full opinion in Kathy Augustine murder Las Vegas Sun Retrieved 6 September 2017 Further reading Edit Augustine impeached Las Vegas Review Journal November 12 2004 Archived from the original on November 13 2004 Retrieved November 12 2004 Kathy Augustine Biography Controllers Office State of Nevada Archived from the original on March 6 2005 Retrieved July 16 2006 The life and politics of Kathy Augustine Reno Gazette Journal July 12 2006 Retrieved July 12 2006 permanent dead link Coolican J Patrick July 13 2006 Augustine lived up to her reputation Las Vegas Sun article Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved July 13 2006 Press Releases Controller s Office States of Nevada Retrieved on July 14 2006 NB Augustine s press releases while in office Husband convicted of murder Retrieved June 29 2007 dead link Kathy Augustine at Find a Grave Power Passion and Poison 48 Hours Mystery story about Augustine s death December 20 2008 Political officesPreceded byDarrel R Daines Nevada State Controller1999 2006 Succeeded bySteve Martin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kathy Augustine amp oldid 1129582440, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
